Pre-Dental Life
What is the standardized exam required for dental school admission?
DAT (Dental Admission Test)
How many sections are on the DAT?
4 : Survey of Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning
Which organelle is known as the "powerhouse" of the cell?
Mitochondria
What is the hardest substance in the human body?
Enamel
How long is the average length of dental school in the US (excluding specialties)?
~ 4 years
What is the minimum number of shadowing hours most dental schools recommend?
At least ~100 hours
What is the highest possible scaled score on the DAT?
New grading scale: 600
What are the 4 macromolecules
Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids
How many permanent teeth does a typical adult have?
32
True or False: George Washington’s false teeth were made of wood
False! They were made of ivory, gold, and human/animal teeth
What centralized application system do most U.S. dental schools use?
ADEA AADSAS (Associated American Dental Schools Application Service)
What branch of chemistry is tested with concepts like nucleophiles, electrophiles, and resonance?
Organic Chemistry
In genetics, what term describes an organism with two identical alleles for a gene?
Homozygous
What is the dental term for inflammation of the gums?
gingivitis
What animal’s teeth never stop growing?
Rodents
What is one extracurricular activity besides shadowing that strengthens a dental school application?
Research, volunteering, leadership, dental assisting, etc.
Name 3 different types of PAT questions you could get on the DAT
Keyholes, Top-Front-End, Angle Ranking, Hole Punching (Paper Folding), Cube Counting, and Pattern Folding
What is the process by which mRNA is decoded to form a protein?
Translation
What dental specialty focuses on root canal treatments?
Endodontics
What is the most common dental procedure performed in the U.S.?
Dental fillings
Name at least 3 key components admissions committees evaluate in applicants besides GPA/DAT
Letters of recommendation, personal statement, extracurriculars, interviews, and manual dexterity
What is considered a “competitive” Academic Average (AA) score for most dental schools?
~ 420 (20 on the old grading scale)
What law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed?
First Law of Thermodynamics
What is dental plaque primarily made of?
A biofilm of bacteria, food debris, and saliva proteins
Which U.S. city was home to the first dental school, founded in 1840?
Baltimore, Maryland
-> Baltimore College of Dental Surgery